James Maddison Opens Up on Injury Nightmare
James Maddison recently talked about the weight of his prolonged 375-day injury absence following his competitive return in a 1-1 draw against Leeds on Tuesday, 12 May.
The 29-year-old midfielder’s year-long hiatus was exacerbated by an initial medical misdiagnosis regarding a knee injury sustained in May 2025.
Maddison revealed he originally suffered a partial Anterior Cruciate Ligament tear against Bodo/Glimt. External specialists initially advised against surgery, opting for rehabilitation instead. However, the knee remained unstable, leading to a full rupture during a pre-season friendly. The subsequent surgery sidelined the England international for the entire 2025/26 campaign.
Reflecting on the mental toll, Maddison admitted to an online sports publication that the layoff was hard.
“There have been some dark days in the last year, especially since the surgery. It has been a really tough year for me mentally, but I’m at the end of the tunnel now, so I can kind of look back on that with fondness because I’m as mentally strong as I can be after going through that,” he said.
The warm reception from Spurs fans provided a significant emotional boost to his return. Now returning to a side led by Roberto De Zerbi, Maddison is shifting focus from personal recovery to Tottenham’s desperate battle for English Premier League safety.
With Spurs currently 17th and just two points above the relegation zone, the playmaker insists it is time to get “straight down to business” to salvage a season many would rather forget.
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